Michael Sams, an 84-year-old convicted killer with one leg, is pursuing his fourth bid for freedom after spending 33 years behind bars. Sams was sentenced to four life terms in 1993 for the kidnap and murder of 18-year-old Julie Dart and the abduction of Birmingham estate agent Stephanie Slater. Originally from Keighley, West Yorkshire, Sams has been referred to the Parole Board, and if his release is approved, he could potentially be back on Britain's streets later this year.
Previous Parole Bids Denied
Sams has made several unsuccessful parole reviews since his incarceration. A bid in 2023 was rejected, with authorities deeming him too dangerous to be released. The Parole Board will now reassess his case, focusing on the risk he poses to the public and whether that risk can be managed in the community.
The Crimes: Kidnap and Murder
In 1991, Sams kidnapped Julie Dart from Leeds, holding her prisoner in a makeshift coffin in his workshop in Newark, Nottinghamshire. He demanded a £140,000 ransom from her family but ultimately murdered her with a hammer and dumped her body on farmland near Grantham, Lincolnshire. Later, Sams kidnapped Stephanie Slater from Great Barr, Birmingham. He handcuffed, gagged, and blindfolded her, hiding her inside a box locked in a wheelie bin. She was found alive after a £175,000 ransom was paid. Slater later assisted police in helping kidnap victims before dying of cancer in 2017.
Conviction and Additional Sentence
Sams denied murdering Dart but admitted kidnapping Slater. He was convicted and ordered to serve a minimum of 25 years in prison. He was caught after his third wife recognized his voice from a recording played on the BBC's Crimewatch programme. In 2005, Sams received an additional eight-year sentence for attacking a probation officer with a metal spike.
Parole Board Process
A Parole Board spokesperson stated that decisions are solely focused on the risk a prisoner could represent to the public if released and whether that risk is manageable in the community. The panel examines a wide range of evidence, including details of the original crime, evidence of behavioral change, and the harm done to victims. Parole Board members read hundreds of pages of evidence and reports before an oral hearing, which includes testimony from probation officers, psychiatrists, psychologists, and prison officials. Victim personal statements may also be presented. The spokesperson emphasized, "Parole reviews are always undertaken thoroughly and with extreme care. Protecting the public is our number one priority."
